Israel Shahak (Warsaw, April 28, 1933-Jerusalem, July 2, 2001) 1 was a Polish professor, author and civil rights activist. Holocaust survivor, taught chemistry at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He was especially known for his liberal and secular thinking. Between 1970 and 1990 he served as president of the Israeli League for Human and Civil Rights. Critic of the government of Israel, Shahak's writings about Judaism have been a source of great controversy due to his anti-Zionist thinking.